Quick Shots: IceHogs poised for annual run

For the fourth straight season, the Rockford IceHogs are primed to make a late push toward the playoffs.

Will it end with a fourth consecutive disappointment, or will it be an end to missing the postseason?

Too early to tell. The signs look promising, primarily because they seem to have meshed already and have plenty of time remaining.

The big advantage this year is they don't have the ground to make up that they did last season. In fact, the 'Hogs would be in the playoffs today based on winning percentage. So they don't need to win nine of every 10 games the rest of the way.

The offense is as productive as it was at the end of 2012-13, when it was exceptional. The penalty kill and goaltending will determine the team's fate.

"We finished really strong last year, and we figure to do that again," center Brandon Pirri said. "We put ourselves in position where it is realistic to make it."

MVP nice, but .

Brandon Pirri was asked to compare his success as the all-star game MVP with notching a big third-period goal to tie the game Friday against Chicago: "It's fun to do that stuff at the all-star game. But you don't get paid at the all-star games - you get paid to play hockey here. They're not close."

War with Wolves

Rockford is halfway done with the Chicago Wolves, with six more meetings remaining beginning with Friday's home encounter.

Keep an eye on how this series plays out.

"They're a team we're battling for position in the standings, and a team we play a lot every year," 'Hogs forward Mark McNeill said. "You can definitely see the intensity rising each time we play them."

Oh, Canada

The IceHogs are having fun, with the Americans pitted against the Canadians as far as rooting interest in the Olympics.